[Name: Marcus Sirdi.]
[Age: 24.]
[Level: 1 (Mage)]
[Race: Human.]
[Mana: 200.]
[Achievement Points: 1253]
[Arcane Knowledge Learned (Lv1). Advanced Technological Knowledge Learned (Lv2). Body Modification Knowledge Locked. Futuristic technological Knowledge Locked.]
[Redo: 2.]
[Days Left: 2 months ( 58 days)]
…
Huff!
Huff!
Inhaling deeply, Marcus's chest heaved heavily as he leaned against a dilapidated building.
The air was so cold that his breath left thin cloudy mists as he exhaled.
Winter, in its cold glory, was only a few days away, and the temperature was already adjusting to welcome its white blessings.
Boom!
A strong wave of air took off a part of the dilapidated building Marcus was hiding behind.
"Shit!" He cursed out. "More than thirty Delirious Devilish Mutants."
This isn't a battle I can easily participate in. We have been several steps ahead of these faceless bastards, how did they find out about Phosphorus-I and manage to escape the net?
A dangerous feeling of foreboding death hung around Marcus's throat as he tried to figure out how everything had gone out of place.
"Damn it, did it leak? But who could have done that? Only a few people were involved in the planning of the ambush, and they were the only ones I informed about Phosphorus-I."
Eddy Lawfy.
That was the first name that popped up in Marcus's mind. To Marcus, Eddy was the first suspect and the one more likely to have committed this betrayal.
Taking a deep breath, Marcus pushed himself off the wall and began sprinting.
Boom!
Just moments after he left that hiding spot, three broken corpses of knights crashed against the dilapidated building. Bringing it down completely.
Looking back, Marcus saw hundreds of Knights and more than twenty Ulha Academy students fiercely against the Devilish Mutants.
Sprawled like dirt on the streets were the lifeless bodies of poor citizens, knights, and students.
The streets were filled with puddles of blood, and structures had been set ablaze. Far in the distance, a cloud of smoke continued to blot out the moonlight.
"I thought we still had time, what had gone wrong!?"
***
2 months ago.
On a warm afternoon in Marcus's estate.
A makeshift camp had been built around the periphery of Marcus's estate.
They couldn't be built any closer as those areas had already been designated and prepped as areas for winter shelters to be built.
Moreover, construction for most of them had already begun.
The occupants of this makeshift camp were the reinforcement troops from several authorities.
The students participating in this assignment in Agard had requested backup from their families and backers.
Even the Royal Council had sent a few Inspectors over.
Inside Marcus's mansion, more than fifty people, including Marcus and a few of his knights, gathered in a spacious hall to discuss.
"I think we begin now." Zach looked at Marcus, and the latter gave his permission with a simple nod.
However, his thoughts were far from simple.
How could they send only four Inspectors?
He complained as his eyes went over the said individuals.
They were dressed in ash, military garbs that had the insignia of the Royal Council on the left side of the breast area.
Two of them were females, and the other two were males.
They all stood proudly and confidently amongst the crowd.
Someone raised a hand. "I was under the impression that the Royal Council had its attention on Agard. However…" the person looked at the Inspectors before continuing. "I was wrongly impressed."
"Yes!"
"Based on the reports and investigations, Agard truly is infested with those maggots called cultists. How can their response to these maggots be to send over four Inspectors?!"
The crowd didn't seem to be on the same page as the Royal Council.
And these were people with strong backings. Though the strongest amongst them were only a level above the Tidal Wave rank.
Not even officially a rank ahead. Just half a step away. Nonetheless, they were strong individuals and yet, here they were complaining.
Mind you, they had been fighting against the Faceless cult over the last three weeks, and both sides had incurred losses.
They soon realized that the Faceless cult's activities in Agard far surpassed their estimations.
"Everyone, please, calm down." Zach began. "After sending the report to the Royal Council, they sent word back saying that they would provide support. However, it will be minimal. They said that what's in Agard is only the bottom rank cultists. The true powerful ones wouldn't show up here because they know that the Kingdom is watching."
"And so?" A squad captain sneered. "Have those bastards! Did any of them look like they were at the bottom of the barrel to you? They have men that are half a step above the Tidal Wave rank, how is that the bottom!? Is the Royal Council trying to force us to leave?"
He threatened, and silently, most of the other forces summoned from other families and organizations agreed with this.
Zach sighed. "There's nothing I can do about the Royal Council… those old coots, they have their own thoughts and plans."
"They think we still have a chance?" Ron asked and Zach nodded.
"Did you inform them that there's a very high risk of Mutants being summoned?" Marcus asked.
"Yes… I even sent credible evidence for them to analyze, and yet…"
Marcus turned his gaze to Veronica, waiting to see her reaction.
Do you trust him?
She bent her head slightly.
Yeah.
Though not a word was spoken, they both had an understanding.
Over the last few weeks, the two of them had come to a point of understanding.
Marcus realized that she was going to continue disturbing him every day, so he learned to ignore her presence. However, he made sure to keep her away from his secrets and important work.
Slowly, Veronica integrated herself into his schedule.
To the point where she even began helping to make copies of the books he had written before she was promoted to being a teacher in the learning center.
However, recently, none of them had the chance to fulfill this duty.
They had been at the battlefield for the last three weeks.
I also believe what he's saying. Marcus thought. He had no reason to doubt the young man, the young man had fought with zeal in every battle.
If anything, he was passionate about exterminating cultists.
"Will it be possible to invite mercenaries now?" Marcus considered. This was his land, and territory.
Everyone else could retreat if the situation called for it, but he couldn't.
"No, I don't think that's possible." One of the female Inspectors said. "The perimeters of Agard have been sealed with magic."
"What!?" The crowd exploded with frenzy as fear crept into their minds.
"Are they trying to sacrifice us all?"
"Be silent!" Angered, one of the male Inspectors bellowed. "Do you think we'll be sent here to die!? If we are here, then it means that there is a way. A plan has already been made. Victory is only a matter of time."
Though restless, the crowd didn't voice its thoughts anymore.
"We've found their Motherload. The core of the formation–and also its headquarters–is in Agard. All we have to do now is attack with our full force." The female Inspector began explaining the plan to everyone.
A few brows creased, while others remained neutral…
The plan sounded well put… but it was risky.
Very risky.
Do I reveal the weapons we have in store now? With them, our worries would reduce significantly. Marcus thought.
The crowd dispersed, leaving only Marcus with Veronica, Zach, Eddy, and Sam.
***
Back to the present.
"Roarr!" The screeching cry of the Delirious Devilish Mutants rampaging a few feet away, nearly took out his eardrums.
"Lord Marcus!" Two knights called out as soon as they arrived.
"Brown, Logail! It's good you're here."
"Milord, staying here is way too dangerous for you. I suggest you let one of us escort you to safety," Brown suggested.
"No, we have to continue with the mission."
"But Milord, there's not much we can do at this point. With enough force, our weapons can cut through these Devilish Mutants, but we are surrounded." Logail said.
"We've already lost most of our brothers," Brown added.
It was at this point that Marcus took in their states.
Both Brown and Logail had several cuts on their bodies. Even their armor had dents and was bloodied.
Their eyes carried an unseen weight of sadness.
They had truly taken a beating.
"Fuck!" Marcus cursed out. The only way he could express his pain at the moment.
Yes, he too had lost a lot. But they couldn't stop now. Even if it would cost him his life, he couldn't stop here.